1. < Skin Health

Brachioradial pruritus. (severe itching on forearms and neck, no rash).

Posted by Patrick Cotter @patrickcotter, Mar 19, 2012

Does anyone know of this. I think its rare but does exist. My neurologist does not know about this. I have compression between my c5 and c6 cervical disk and have had alot of sun damage to my skin.

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angiemm | @angiemm | Nov 23, 2018

Hi - I've just registered as I wanted to pass on what I tried to stop this awful itch. I read on here that someone suggested petroleum jelly can help and someone else mentioned menthol rub. In desperation on Wednesday night I rummaged around in the medicine cabinet (having tried everything else I could think of) and found an old pot of Vick Vapour Rub (it's called Vick here in England). Anyway, I lathered this on my arm and the itching stopped! I did the same last night and no itching. This seems ridiculous, but it worked! I had previously been waking up every night and scratching my arm furiously for hours - no scratching at all and the lumps and bumps on my arm are disappearing. Please pass this on - I tried to join the discussion after registering but couldn't for some reason. Many thanks and good luck. Angie

REPLY
annhorst01 | @annhorst01 | Nov 23, 2018

I have this agonizing condition. It is definitely aggravated by sun, so I don't leave the house without spraying 30+ on my arms. When I don't, it flares up. For flares, I whip out the ice pack. Not easy to do if you aren't close to an ice pack! lol So, best way for me to prevent flares is to protect from sun. I do have Osteoarthritis of spine with radiculopathy, cervical region, and Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome (spinal cord injury of some sort). I get trigger point injections in my muscle spasms (neck and upper back) from my Pain Specialist at UCSD Medical Center in La Jolla, as well as Neurofrequency Ablation procedures to heat up nerves in the facet joints so they shut down and prevent pain signals from being felt. That helps a lot, but sometimes the pain comes back and they just redo the ablation procedure. Ask for an anxiety med if you try this procedure. I am not adverse to the worst pain imaginable, but this procedure caused me to almost faint on the table due to involuntary autonomic nervous system reactions. It was not fun at all and I was sweating profusely, losing Blood pressure rapidly, asking for O2 etc, so please, please just ask for the anxiety med, and your body will thank you! You will just need a ride home.

REPLY
noeley | @noeley | Nov 24, 2018
In reply to @bobbiellen "WOW! What a relief to find this! I had to diagnose myself from research on the..." + (show)
@bobbiellen

WOW! What a relief to find this! I had to diagnose myself from research on the internet, since most docs are clueless, and don't even know to refer or who to refer to. I think the last four years of posts on here cover about every possible treatment out there.....

Only relief for me has been icepacks and Biofreeze. Over the years, I have purchased mostly cortisone but also various anti-itch creams, natural creams, etc., however it wasn't until this fall that I realized there is more to this than the skin. My research revealed the terms brachial radial pruritis, neurogenic itch, etc. I am not keen on drugs or meds so I am trying acupuncture. I just convinced my doc (that I am leaving) to order spinal xrays. They revealed the narrowing at the C5-6, some entrapment, etc. I am skeptical of chiropractors but the ones that specialize in the neck, the NUCCA ones that know what they are doing, might be worth a try. I checked out the Amazon neck devices and there are so many - those inflatable ones look uncomfortable, compared to some of the other similar ones - so not yet sure what to try. I like the natural routes so I wanna look into the doterra stuff - the Deep Blue, the DDR and the Copaiba Oil.

Since my life has finally slowed down quite a bit and I have the time to think more deeply about this, I do remember that the end of the summers were always triggered the itching - I only get it on my upper arms, bilaterally, shoulders to above elbows only. Then it seems it would just go away, but this time I spent more time in the sun that usual, not realizing it would later turn into this. I never had to use ice packs before, never that bad.

In any event, I am at the point now, after 3 months of this, that I need to find a solution so I have been relentless in this online research and am paying out of pocket for acupuncture that I may stop. I have had about 4 treatments with one doc and two with another. I think the one that I have had the 4 with is better and he feels that it will take 10-12 treatments, but I am just not too sure about it all. At first I thought it might be the miracle cure, but not so sure now.

Going to speak with my physical therapist tomorrow and give her all the low down, to determine best exercises and neck device. Then I would like to consider a NUCCA chiropractor or the Japanese Amatsu.

I have moved to a more holistic lifestyle in the last three years, more plant based, sugar limited to Stevia 98% of the time, etc. I am semi-retired now and am also part of a centering prayer group. I do believe that what we eat and how we de-stress is critical. I also cut out med's - stopped the Lexapro, and the Lisinopryl. I was basically borderline HBP and find I don't really need it now. As for the Lexapro, same thing, or else I am just treatment resistant. In any event neither of them are worth the money or the side effects. I prefer to live presecription - drug free.

It is pointless to scratch, because it only makes it worse, so it is better to keep hydrated with lotion, and then when unbearable, apply the Biofreeze or the icepacks. But the constant and then fluctuating sensations of burning and stinging are a major life disruption and I find myself a bit on the OCD side to get this resolved. From what I have read, many have it far worse and I don't see now they have lived with it for soooo long.

My mother-in-law was over radiated from treatment for skin cancer on her legs and she has been complaining of itching on her legs but then sometimes she claims it is everywhere. Initially I thought it might be the radiation that damaged her nerve endings, at least in her legs, but not really too sure now. Maybe the neuropathy came from the over radiation.....in any event, I can pass this information on to her. She might benefit from that gabapentine drug - as she isn't weird about medications like I am.

BTW - I couldn't find the FB page that you all referred to. I saw a few FB pages related to BRP but none looked like it was like this, but more linked to someone promoting their services. There seems to be much more information here.

Jump to this post

Look up info from Noeley

REPLY
noeley | @noeley | Nov 24, 2018
In reply to @bobbiellen "WOW! What a relief to find this! I had to diagnose myself from research on the..." + (show)
@bobbiellen

WOW! What a relief to find this! I had to diagnose myself from research on the internet, since most docs are clueless, and don't even know to refer or who to refer to. I think the last four years of posts on here cover about every possible treatment out there.....

Only relief for me has been icepacks and Biofreeze. Over the years, I have purchased mostly cortisone but also various anti-itch creams, natural creams, etc., however it wasn't until this fall that I realized there is more to this than the skin. My research revealed the terms brachial radial pruritis, neurogenic itch, etc. I am not keen on drugs or meds so I am trying acupuncture. I just convinced my doc (that I am leaving) to order spinal xrays. They revealed the narrowing at the C5-6, some entrapment, etc. I am skeptical of chiropractors but the ones that specialize in the neck, the NUCCA ones that know what they are doing, might be worth a try. I checked out the Amazon neck devices and there are so many - those inflatable ones look uncomfortable, compared to some of the other similar ones - so not yet sure what to try. I like the natural routes so I wanna look into the doterra stuff - the Deep Blue, the DDR and the Copaiba Oil.

Since my life has finally slowed down quite a bit and I have the time to think more deeply about this, I do remember that the end of the summers were always triggered the itching - I only get it on my upper arms, bilaterally, shoulders to above elbows only. Then it seems it would just go away, but this time I spent more time in the sun that usual, not realizing it would later turn into this. I never had to use ice packs before, never that bad.

In any event, I am at the point now, after 3 months of this, that I need to find a solution so I have been relentless in this online research and am paying out of pocket for acupuncture that I may stop. I have had about 4 treatments with one doc and two with another. I think the one that I have had the 4 with is better and he feels that it will take 10-12 treatments, but I am just not too sure about it all. At first I thought it might be the miracle cure, but not so sure now.

Going to speak with my physical therapist tomorrow and give her all the low down, to determine best exercises and neck device. Then I would like to consider a NUCCA chiropractor or the Japanese Amatsu.

I have moved to a more holistic lifestyle in the last three years, more plant based, sugar limited to Stevia 98% of the time, etc. I am semi-retired now and am also part of a centering prayer group. I do believe that what we eat and how we de-stress is critical. I also cut out med's - stopped the Lexapro, and the Lisinopryl. I was basically borderline HBP and find I don't really need it now. As for the Lexapro, same thing, or else I am just treatment resistant. In any event neither of them are worth the money or the side effects. I prefer to live presecription - drug free.

It is pointless to scratch, because it only makes it worse, so it is better to keep hydrated with lotion, and then when unbearable, apply the Biofreeze or the icepacks. But the constant and then fluctuating sensations of burning and stinging are a major life disruption and I find myself a bit on the OCD side to get this resolved. From what I have read, many have it far worse and I don't see now they have lived with it for soooo long.

My mother-in-law was over radiated from treatment for skin cancer on her legs and she has been complaining of itching on her legs but then sometimes she claims it is everywhere. Initially I thought it might be the radiation that damaged her nerve endings, at least in her legs, but not really too sure now. Maybe the neuropathy came from the over radiation.....in any event, I can pass this information on to her. She might benefit from that gabapentine drug - as she isn't weird about medications like I am.

BTW - I couldn't find the FB page that you all referred to. I saw a few FB pages related to BRP but none looked like it was like this, but more linked to someone promoting their services. There seems to be much more information here.

Jump to this post

Go to brain and nervous system. next page press on BRP

REPLY
noeley | @noeley | Nov 24, 2018
In reply to @njcarolnjn "not spelled that way. no seems to spell it correctky" + (show)
@njcarolnjn

not spelled that way. no seems to spell it correctky

Jump to this post

Brachioradial Pruritus

REPLY
noeley | @noeley | Nov 25, 2018
In reply to @bobbiellen "Do they do that in the US? On the east coast? Anywhere near the mid-Atlantic? I..." + (show)
@bobbiellen

Do they do that in the US? On the east coast? Anywhere near the mid-Atlantic? I couldn't find it anywhere around here.

Jump to this post

Sorry I don’t know as I live in Europe.

REPLY
noeley | @noeley | Nov 25, 2018
In reply to @njcarolnjn "There are two FB Groups in BP. i have tried everything. Atlas chiro. only thing left..." + (show)
@njcarolnjn

There are two FB Groups in BP. i have tried everything. Atlas chiro. only thing left for me is diet and the Amastsu. no here in NJ knows what that is at all

Jump to this post

As far as I can assertain you do not have Amatzu Treatment in the USA. In one of the statements written by “Angiemm”he or she reported that the use of Vick’s Vapour rub (usually used for a cold) helped greatly and I tried it, and yes it did help, and the itching stopped for several hours. Try it. The most important thing is to exfoliate and above all keep ur arms moisturized all day long applying many times, it really does work that and keeping ur arms covered. WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT THE DRUG MY GP PRESCRIBED. “AMITRIPTYLIN” was without doubt the help I needed - yes I know, drugs - I don’t want to take drugs ever but you know what, I can’t live with this terrible terrible itching and pain. I may have to stay on the drug for a few years, in the hope that the way medicine is going they will find some help for all of us in the BRP family. Quality of life wins over length of time every time. I hope one or two of my suggestions will help at least one person, particularly exfoliating moisturing and covering ur arms with long sleevs. The very best of luck.

REPLY
2 replies
Kay Rovik | @anniemaggie | Nov 25, 2018

I have this, just found out why I have scratched my arms bloody since 1988. My whole vertebrae is a mess, severe narrowing and compression fractures the whole length. Spinal stenosis, others. Pain Dr said I have a lot of company. I only use ibuprofen really helps with pain, will not touch pain pills, except for surgery, broke my ankle last week, he took out a plate from previous break and put in a bigger one. Had a ,seizure and dropped. Not one dermatologist could help me but a doctor recommended expected on the skin. It really helps, burns at first, stops the itching, would rather have pain. I have been on hydroxyzine since 2000 when I begged for something. Originally I was getting 8 a day, drs have dropped it to 5. It can cause somsthing, do you think I care, what something else? 4 rare diseases. Triamcinolone also helps

REPLY
caregiver49 | @caregiver49 | Nov 25, 2018
In reply to @cropsey26 "what can i take to stop the non stop itching it never goes away i feel..." + (show)
@cropsey26

what can i take to stop the non stop itching it never goes away i feel like i want to rip the skin off my arm i have tried evereything over the counter but it does nt work i can not take much longer of this what can u suggest for me todo

Jump to this post

Might try spraying self with bactine at first sign of itching. After you have scratched yourself it is harder to to stop and makes itching worse. Keep spray by bed for night use. Hope this helps a bit.

REPLY
bobbiellen | @bobbiellen | Nov 25, 2018

I mixed up some diy blends-to apply topically, that ....so far....are giving me some relief..... here they are:

2oz. Witch hazel, Tbs alcohol, and about 10 drops of copaiba essential oil and about 20 of lavender oil

10 drops of tea tree, clove and lavender oil in an oil base of jojoba oil and argon oil

Colloidal silver

Manuka wound honey

Babo botanicals healing ointment from Whole Foods with colloidal oatmeal, Shea butter, aloe - no chemicals or additives

Shear Radiance pure whipped Shea butter with colloidal oatmeal

I am also taking Tumeric orally, twice a day- from Xhile Foods

Tomorrow I go to a physical Therapist for treatment, exercises and maybe a traction device

Also looking for a good massage therapist that does cranial sacral and myofascial and musculoskeletal alignment

I believe that one needs to try to call the skin down with natural products - no chemicals but also treat the C5-6 entrapment, or whatever might be going on with the spinal nerves in the neck. Good idea to get X-rays to determine. I did that and the nerve encroachment was there at the C5/6, which can affect sensation in the upper arms, which is where it is a problem for me.

Will keep you posted.

REPLY
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